Kenya Airways (KQ) has voiced its strong objection to the detention of two of its employees by the Military Intelligence Unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The staff members were apprehended on suspicion of transporting cargo without proper customs clearance.
According to Allan Kilavuka, the CEO of KQ Group, the two individuals were arrested in Kinshasa on April 19, 2024. The allegation against them pertained to missing customs documentation related to valuable cargo that was supposedly to be transported on a KQ flight on April 12, 2024. However, Kilavuka clarified that the said cargo had not been uplifted or accepted by Kenya Airways due to incomplete documentation.
“Kenya Airways confirms that on Friday, April 19, 2024, two of our employees at our airport office in Kinshasa were arrested and continue to be detained by the Military Intelligence Unit known as Detection Militaire des Activities Anti Patrie,” stated Mr. Kilavuka in a released statement.
He further explained that the military officers took the employees to the military section of the air wing to provide statements. They were kept incommunicado until April 23, when embassy officials and a team from Kenya Airways were granted permission to visit them.
Despite a court order for their unconditional release, issued on Thursday, Kilavuka expressed concern that they were still being detained by the Military Intelligence Unit.
“Despite the court orders, the Military Intelligence Unit is still holding them incommunicado, yet these are civilians being held in a military intelligence facility,” Kilavuka emphasized.
Kilavuka clarified that the cargo in question was not under KQ’s possession for transportation. He explained that the logistic handler was still in the process of completing documentation before handing it over to Kenya Airways. The cargo remained in the baggage section undergoing clearance when the security team arrived and alleged that KQ was transporting cargo without customs clearance.
“All efforts to explain to the military officers that KQ had not accepted the cargo because of incomplete documentation proved futile,” Kilavuka added.
